UNIT 1: MUSICAL GENRES

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1 UNIT 1: MUSICAL GENRES TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Musical classification 1.1 Traditional or folkloric music 1.2 Popular music 1.3 Art music (Classical music) 2. Other ways of classifying music 2.1 Religious music, sacred music / secular music, profane music 2.2 Dramatic vocal music/concert vocal music 2.3 Absolute music /programme music. 3. Musical styles and periods in classical music 4. Analysis of a piece of music 1. MUSICAL CLASSIFICATION 1.1 Traditional or folkloric music It is music which is typical from a specific region or country. Folkloric music is part of the traditions and customs. When we refer to traditional music, we can also mention folkloric clothes, dances, instruments and songs. EXAMPLES: African traditional music: In general, when we talk about "African music", we mean sub- Saharan music, music from the south of the Sahara. The main characteristics of this type of music are: The extensive use of percussion. Drums are probably the most widely played instruments in Africa (There are several types of drums such as the djembe or the dundun). Skilled drummers can use drums to send messages. In most African drum ensembles, there is a master drummer who leads the group. He plays a rhythmic signal which sets the tempo and the rhythm for the other players. After this call, the other players join in with the response. This call and response pattern is usually repeated many times during a performance. Voice and other instruments are used too (xylophones, string instruments...). This music is based on polyrhythm (several rhythmic patterns are played at the same time). Performances are long and involve the audience through singing and dancing. Djembe Dundun Kora 1

2 Balophone African drum ensemble - Traditional African music: - MIRIAM MAKEBA ( ) / Traditional Chinese music: The ideal society was governed by rites, ritual and ceremonial functions. Music was not really entertainment. It had a social utility. Music had to be generally simple, induce tranquility, and facilitate the appropriate conduct in ceremonies. Most of the traditional music used the ancient Chinese pentatonic scale. Perhaps to maintain the Confucian norms of simplicity and clarity, Harmony is simple and not as important in folkloric Chinese music as it is in Western-style music. Unlike Western or African music, there is no emphasis on rhythm or beat. Music was not intended for dancing. Traditional Chinese instruments: The erhu: it is a two-string, violin-like instrument that is played with a bow like a violin bow. The guzheng: it is a large or-more stringed instrument. It is said that it is an ancestor of the Japanese koto. The pipa is a four-stringed Chinese musical instrument. The instrument has a pear-shaped wooden body with frets like those on a guitar. It sounds like a banjo. Dizis are generally made of bamboo, and they generally have six or more finger holes. One hole is covered with paper so that the flute has a peculiar buzzing sound that people like. 2

3 Erhu Pipa Guzheng Chinese flute (Dizi) Indian music: The music from India is improvised. It uses scales called "ragas" associated with different feelings. This music is performed with solo instruments (wind or string) accompanied by percussion instruments (for example a sitar and a tabla ensemble). (Classical Indian music) THE INFLUENCE OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC ON OTHER MUSICAL GENRES: Traditional music has an important influence on other musical genres such as popular music and classical music. - In classical music, nationalist styles are influenced by traditional music. 3

4 "El amor brujo" by Manuel de Falla ( ). This work is inspired by flamenco. "Ritual Fire Dance" (Danza ritual del fuego) and "Song of Wildfire" (Canción del fuego fatuo). - In popular music, several musical styles such as folk and modern South African music are under the influence of traditional music. Folk: modern music and songs that are written in a style similar to that of traditional music. "O son do ar" by Luar Na Lubre, a Galician band who plays Celtic Music. XaUwE Celtic music also had a huge influence on traditional Irish music. The Chieftains are a very famous traditional Irish music band. Riverdance: Modern African popular music EXERCISES: 1º) Match each term with its definition or description. a. Traditional Indian music b. Folk music c. Flamenco d. Celtic music e. Nationalist music f. The sitar g. Traditional Chinese music h. Polyrhythm i. Manuel de Falla 1. Occidental popular music and songs that are influenced by traditional music. 2. Traditional music that uses pentatonic scales. It is basically melodic and with a simple harmony and rhythm. 3. A traditional musical style that had a huge influence on Galician and Irish traditional music. 4. A type of music based on improvisation that uses scales (ragas), string and percussion instruments. 5. Classical music inspired by traditional music. 6. Indian plucked string instrument. 7. Genre of traditional music and dance native to the southern Spanish regions of Andalusia, Extremadura and Murcia. 8. Several rhythmic patterns that are played at the same time. 9. Spanish composer from the twentieth century who wrote nationalist music. He composed "El amor brujo". 4

5 2º) Listen to the different extracts and indicate their style or genre. a) b) c) d) MUSIC THEORY: - DOTTED NOTES: One dot lengthens the note or rest by half the value of the original note or rest. So, a dotted minim is worth three crotchets. A dotted crotchet is worth three quavers and so on. 3º) Fill in the incomplete bars with one note or rest. - PENTATONIC SCALES: Pentatonic scales are used a lot in traditional, blues, folk and rock music. They use five notes. Ordinary scales use seven different notes. Scales start and end on notes of the same name. The first two phrases of the melody from Stephen Susanna" are based on the major pentatonic scale. Foster's "Oh! The major pentatonic scale uses the I, II, III, V and VI degrees. The most important degree of a scale is the tonic (first note or first degree.) 4º) Write out the pentatonic scale of C major and indicate below the notes the different degrees of the scale. 5º) Write out the pentatonic scale of G major. 5

6 6º) Compose a small tune with the following characteristics: - C major pentatonic scale. Time signature: 4/4 time. Four bars. - Two sub-phrases (or phrase members) of two bars. - Start the first sub-phrase with the fifth degree and end in the second bar with degrees II, III or V. - Repeat the beginning of the sub-phase and end the tune on the tonic (grade I). - Use at least one dottedd crotchet in each sub-phrase. 7º) Rhythm dictation PROJECT: Create a didactic video that deals with the folkloric music of one of the autonomous regions of Spain. You will choose this region and refer to traditional dances, songs, instruments and ensembles. 1.2 Popular music: It is music that is distributed to large audiences through the music industry and mass media. It appeals to popular tastes. The term Pop music refers to one musical genre that is included in popular music. Examples of popular music styles: blues, rock, pop, disco, rap, hip hop... Halftime shows of the Super Bowl: Michael Jackson Madonna Bruno Mars / Classical music (art music) This term refers to music of different periods and styles that was written in a Western musical tradition by great composers such as Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven or Stravinsky. Classical music is generally considered to be serious and to have a lasting value. Example: O Fortuna (Carmina Burana) by the German composer Carl Orff ( ). André Rieu conducts this performance OTHER WAYS OF CLASSIFYING MUSIC 2.1 Religious music, sacred music / secular music, profane music. We use the term secular to refer to something which is not religious. Religious music / non-religious music (profane music, secular music) Example: Music in the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries) With the development of music writing in the Middle Ages, we have information about the differences that existed between religious and secular music. 6

7 Gregorian chant is the basis of religious medieval music in the Christian Church. During this era, convents and monasteries became the great centers of culture. Gregorian chant owes its name to the Pope Gregory the Great who collected the Christian Church s songs. Gregorian chant turned into the Church s official chant and it was part of the liturgy (the mass). This chant was monodic*, written in Latin and performed by monks with no instrumental accompaniment. In the 11th century, an Italian monk, Guido d Arezzo invented the stave and the notes. Later on, the development of music writing helped to create polyphony*. From the 12th century until the 14th century, secular music began to gain importance. In the south of France, troubadours, nobles musicians composed love songs for the ladies or described the adventures of knights at war through songs. Their music was played in castles. The voice was accompanied by instruments with marked and varied rhythms. The texture of their music was monophonic and they used regional languages in their texts. This movement developed throughout Europe. Profane music progressively incorporated religious music advances such as music writing and the use of polyphony. *Monody or monophony: it is a musical texture in which all the singers or musicians sing or play the same melodic line without any harmony. In secular music, the main tune is often doubled with melodic instruments and accompanied by rhythmic instruments. *Polyphony: it is a musical texture in which different melodic lines are sounding at the same time, are quite independent and have a similar importance. Early Music History: Middle Ages, parts 1, 2 and 3. Gregorian Chant: Polyphonic sacred music: Secular music (Goliards, Jongleurs, minstrels, troubadours..): Dramatic vocal music /concert vocal music. Dramatic vocal music: it is vocal music that is a mix of theatre and music such as the opera or the musicals. It is based on a plot or story with different characters. The soloists are both singers and actors who are accompanied by an orchestra or a band. "Marriage of Figaro" by Mozart GREASE (1978) Concert vocal music: It is vocal music performed on stage without any dramatic action. The soloists do not have to be actors, they simply sing their part. Example: An oratorio is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various characters, and arias. 7

8 However, opera is profane musical theatre, while oratorio is strictly a religious concert piece. The plot of an oratorio deals with sacred topics, making it appropriate for performance in the church. Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel from "The Messiah" Absolute music/programme music (Classical instrumental music) Absolute music is music that does not refer to extra-musical elements (texts, landscapes or feelings...). This type of music is exclusively based on musical ideas and forms. Example: Piano concertos and sonatas by Mozart. Programme music: It is classical instrumental music based on extramusical elements such as a plot, a text, feelings, nature... Sometimes, this type of music can be descriptive (For instance: "The Four Seasons" by Antonio Vivaldi). "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint Saëns ( ) (Symphonic Poem) EXERCISES: 1º) Listen to the following extracts and classify them using the correct terminology. Remember that one piece of music can belong to different genres at the same time. a) Juan Del Encina ( ) / Renaissance / Levanta Pascual, levanta b) G. Verdi ( ) / Romanticism / Dies Irae (Requiem/Mass for the dead) c) Tomás Luis de Victoria ( ) / Renaissance / Tenebrae Factae Sunt d) C. Monteverdi ( ) / Baroque era / Orfeo, Favola in musica". e) A. Vivaldi ( )/ Baroque era/ "The Storm" (The Four Seasons) f) Mamma Mia! (1999) / Songs by ABBA 2º) Which musical genres are not represented in this list? Indicate for each one, one example. 8

9 3. MUSICAL STYLES AND PERIODS IN CLASSICAL MUSIC MIDDLE AGES (From the 5th century until the first half of the 15th century) Gregorian chants, minstrels, troubadours, polyphonic masses RENAISSANCE (15th and 16th centuries) Palestrina, Tomás Luis de Victoria, Juan Del Encina, Josquin Des Prés BAROQUE (From the 17th century until the first half of the 18th century) C. Monteverdi, A. Vivaldi, G.F. Handel, J.S. Bach CLASSICICISM (Second half of the 18th century and the two first decades of the 19th century). J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L.V. Beethoven ROMANTICISM (19th century) Chopin, Shubert, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner Spanish nationalist composers: Albéniz, Granados 20TH CENTURY : Wide variety of musical styles (Impressionism, neoclassical music, expressionism, serialism, electronic music, aleatoric music, nationalist...) C.Debussy, I.Stravinsky, Manuel de Falla, M.Ravel 4. ANALYSIS OF A PIECE OF MUSIC TEXTURE: DYNAMICS: EXERCISES: We are going to work on the examples of the exercise nº 1 from part 2. 1º) Indicate the types of orchestra, choir and soloist who perform the following pieces of music. b) c) e) 2º) Which type of tempo is it? b) c) e) 3º) Indicate in the following extracts which dynamic resource is used by the composer. - Autumn by A. Vivaldi - Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky Overture (Finale) What can we say about the tempo in this piece of music? 4º) Which texture is it? Mozart s Clarinet Concerto (second movement) San Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach (Opening Chorus) 9